Christmas Tree Delivery: Seattle Tech Startup Offers Trees On-Demand

SEATTLE, WA — It's now official: You can order anything with your smartphone.

The Seattle-based sharing economy company Dolly will allow users to have a Christmas tree delivered this holiday season through its smartphone app. You can select from four different types of trees — including an artificial pre-decorated tree — and have it delivered whenever it is convenient.

The offer is seasonal. Dolly usually helps people who need something moved on the spot, like a couch, but may not own a big enough vehicle — or have the desire to drag a heavy piece of furniture up flights of stairs.

"We constantly look for ways to create the freedom of time for our customers," CEO Michael Howell said in a press release. "Most of the time, that means helping people get their stuff from A to B, but during the holidays, we know how busy things get, so we wanted to take it one step further."

The Dolly app acts as an intermediary between users and on-demand workers (Dolly calls them "helpers"). When you order a tree, the app finds a helper who, for a fee, will go and pick it up and deliver it. It's similar to ordering a ride via Lyft or groceries through Instacart.

Excluding the delivery fee, which differs depending on the delivery, trees range from $23 to $329, and you can also purchase a tree stand for $8. The trees come from Lowe's.

In the Puget Sound area, tree delivery is available in cities around Seattle, from Everett south to Puyallup, and east from Puget Sound to Snoqualmie. Dolly also operates in four other cities around the country: San Diego, Chicago, Salt Lake City, and Denver.

To download the app and view the tree offerings, visit https://dolly.com/.

Images via Shutterstock; Dolly